Source of 80% of Pharmaceuticals

    With a heritage spanning over 4000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic medical system that includes a wide range of theoretical, physiological, pathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic methods. The primary goal of TCM is to help patients prevent illness and maintain optimal health. In addition to well-known therapeutic methods such as acupuncture, moxibustion, tuina manual therapy, and cupping/scraping, TCM also offers a highly effective and comprehensive range of herbal medicine and nutritional practices. 

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    Chinese herbal remedies date back at least 4000 years. The earliest known written record of Chinese medicine is the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) from the 3rd century BCE. That manuscript formed the theoretical concepts for TCM and still remains as the basis of its practice today.

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    Based on the underpinning theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Philosophies of the Tao, TCM herbology has developed harmonious mechanisms to evaluate and apply concepts of the Four Natures of natural substances which include: hot (热; 熱), warm (温; 溫), cool (凉), cold (寒) or neutral (平), where hot and warm herbs are used to treat cold diseases, while cool and cold herbs are used to treat hot diseases. These herbal and natural substances have been historically core components of traditional and folk medicines. The modern pharmaceutical industry owes its origins to these folk and traditional medicines. Today almost 80% all pharmaceutical products have their roots from natural plants and substances. 

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    A report published by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in the United States found that natural products, including plant-based compounds, accounted for a significant portion of research in the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) field. In 2018, natural products made up approximately 42% of all funded CAM research.

 

    In addition, there is ongoing research in fields such as pharmacology, nutraceuticals, and food science that focus on bioactive plant compounds and their potential health benefits. Some examples of bioactive compounds that have received significant attention in research include polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, among others.